Packing device for washing machines



1957 H. s. COLLIN 3,335,849

PACKING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 15, 1967 H. s. COLLIN I 3,335,849

PACKING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3&

I I u I I United States Patent 3,335,849 PACKING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Herbert S. Collin, 35 Lombard St., Newton, Mass. 02158 Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,862 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packing device for bracing the tub and paddle of a top opening clothes washing machine during shipment. The device is made of two pieces of stilf material, a mat which overlies the rim of the tub, and a collar which is bent to fit into the top opening and has tabs received in slots in the mat. The mat has a central opening to receive the top of the paddle, and a cut running from the opening to the outer edge to facilitate insertion. The collar has tabs on top which are bent against the lid of the machine and jam the packing device in place.

This invention relates to packaging or packing devices, and more particularly to devices for packing a clothes Washing machine to prevent damage to the machine in transit. v

The device here disclosed is especially adapted for packing a washing machine of the top opening spin-dry type. Such machines have a central rotary paddle, and a rotary tub mounted in a stationary housing with a top cover. The paddle and tub are supported on bearings at the bottom only, and are free of the housing at the top.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a packing device which securely holds the tub and paddle at the top when a washing machine of the aforesaid type is being moved or shipped so as to prevent damage to the operating parts. Another object is to provide a packing unit which can be used on machines with various sizes of top openings and tubs. Still another object is to provide a packing unit which is simple and inexpensive, and can be stored in a minimum of space prior to use. Other objects, advantages, and novel features will be apparent from the following description.

The packing device here disclosed is made of carton material such as heavy cardboard, and consists of two sections, a flat mat, and a strip which may be bent to form a collar of circular shape. The mat has a central opening surrounded by tabs which engage the hub of the paddle assembly, and sets of slots disposed in circles of various diameters around the opening. The strip, when in use, is bent to the form of a vertical tube and has tabs on its lower edge which engage in the set of slots on the proper diameter for the size of the tub. The mat overlies the tub and extends under the rim of the top opening in the housing of the machine. The collar engages inside the rim of the top opening and the tabs on its lower edge extend down into the tub. The collar also has tabs along its top edge which are jammed against the cover of the machine so that the whole unit is kept securely in place and braces the tub and paddle assembly.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the top of a washing machine in which is installed a packing device constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the mat section of the packing device in the process of being installed; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged plan views of the strip, or collar, section and mat section, respectively.

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The strip or collar section 10, of the packing device, shown in flat form in FIG. 4 is cut from heavy cardboard, and is of a length somewhat greater than circumference of the top opening (usually circular) of the largest size of washing machine for which the packing device is intended. The collar section carries a number of equally spaced tabs 11 along its under edge. These tabs are tapered toward the bottom and have notches 12 at their bases. The collar section also carries spaced tabs 13 along its upper edge. Tabs 13 are partially slit horizontally along lines 14 and have parallel score lines 15 and 16 at intermediate points and along their bases.

The mat section 17, shown in FIG. 5, is shown as octagonal in shape and its shortest transverse dimension is larger than the diameter of the top opening of the machine for which it is intended. Section 17 has a circular center opening 18 and is radially slit around the opening to form tabs 19. A circular score line 20 passes along the bases of tabs 19. The mat section is split radially along line 21 from opening 18 to its outer edge, and has four score lines 22 going off tangentially from line 20 to its outer edge.

The mat section is provided with three sets of slots 23, 24, and 25 disposed on circles of various diameters around opening 18.

The sets of slots 23, 24 and 25 are spaced circumferentially to correspond to the spacing of tabs 11. To assemble the collar section onto the mat section, the tab 11 which depends from the left hand end portion 10a, and is designated A, is inserted in one of the similarly designated slots in the mat section. The other tabs are then inserted in alphabetical sequence. If the collar section is assembled on the outer set of slots 25, end portion 10b slightly overlaps end portion 10a. Preferably the end portion 1017, which carries no tab, is placed inside end portion 10a. In the outer set 25 all the slots are equally spaced. In the intermediate set 24, the F slot is closer to the A slot to permit the spacing between the other slots to be maintained the same as in the outer set so that the overlap of end portions 10a and 10b is greater. In the inner set of slots, the spacing between slots from A to E is still the same, and the F slot lies between the A and B slots. The portion of the collar section carrying the F tab thus overlaps end portion 1011 when the collar is assembled on the inner set of slots 23. It is understood that any number of sets of slots may be provided, within the dimensional limitations of the mat section, to permit the collar section to be assembled to various diameters.

The washing machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a housing 30 with a top opening 31, a paddle hub 32, an opened top rotary tub 33 which is usually of the same or nearly the same inside diameter at the top as the top opening, and a hinged cover 34. To assemble the packing device into the machine, one of the portions 17a adjacent slit 21 of the mat portion is pushed down and inserted through the top opening of the machine and the mat is worked, with a rotary motion, as illustrated in FIG. 3, into position under the top of the housing and overlying the tub 33. Score lines 22 facilitate bending the mat portion to the extent necessary to manipulate it through the top opening and over the hub 32. Opening 18 is preferably of smaller diameter than the top of the hub, and tabs 19 bend upward when the mat section is pushed down flat in its final position.

The collar section is bent and assembled onto the set of slots of the diameter which is nearest that of the top opening of the machine. The slots 23, 24 and 25 are preferably of about the width of the portions of tabs 11 between notches 12, so that the tabs are locked in after they are forced through the slots. The cover 34 of the machine is then shut and taped or tied down. The tabs 13 bent first along slit lines 14. It further bending is re quired, these tabs will yield along the score lines 15 and 16. The collar section will thus accommodate itself to various spacings between the top of the tub and the underside of the cover.

When the packing device is in place the tub 33 and hub 32 of the machine are securely braced against side- Ward movement which might strain such parts as the bearings and drive shaft of the machine. The packing device can be readily removed, when the machine is set up in its new location, by pulling out the collar section and Working the mat section out with a rotary motion. The packing device is reusable, but is so inexpensive that it is usually discarded.

The packing device here described may be used to advantage by manufacturers of washing machines. It is especially desirable, however, for funiture movers, who handle used machines of various makes as merely one item in a load. The device before assembly is stored flat and takes very little room, and a single size will take care of most of the sizes of top and tub openings likely to be encountered. The mover thus can carry a smaller stock of packing units for washing machines and need not search through his stock to select a unit designed for one particular make and model of washing machine, or resort to a makeshift packing.

It is understood that variations may be made in the device. For example, the mat section may be round or of some other shape and the number of tabs on the collar may be varied.

What is claimed is:

1. A packing device for washing machines comprising a mat section and a strip-like collar section made of stiff sheet material, said collar section being manually bendable into tubular form and carrying spaced depending tabs and spaced upwardly extending tabs, said upwardly extending tabs being provided with horizontal slit lines and score lines spaced therefrom, and said mat section having a set of slots disposed in a circle and circumferentially spaced to correspond to the spacing of said tabs and adapted to receive said tabs.

2. A packing device for Washing machines comprising a mat section and a strip-like collar section made of stiff sheet material, said collar section being normally bendable into tubular form and carrying depending tabs, and said mat section having a set of slots disposed in a circle and circumferentially spaced to correspond to the spacing of said tabs and adapted to receive said tabs, said mat section also having a central opening and an outer edge and a cut extending from said opening to said outer edge.

3. A packing device as described in claim 2, said mat being provided with score lines disposed obliquely with respect to said cut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,074 10/1915 Hahn 206-46 2,329,604 9/1943 Gladstein 2298 3,107,780 10/1963 Stuckert 22914 3,128,725 4/1964 Becker et al. 229--8 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner. 

1. A PACKING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES COMPRISING A MAT SECTION AND A STRIP-LIKE COLLAR SECTION MADE OF STIFF SHEET MATERIAL, SAID COLLAR SECTION BEING MANUALLY BENDABLE INTO TUBULAR FORM AND CARRYING SPACED DEPENDING TABS AND SPACED UPWARDLY EXTENDING TABS, SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING TABS BEING PROVIDED WITH HORIZONTAL SLIT LINES 